Book
It's only drowning : a true story of learning to surf and the search for common ground / David Litt.
"When a former speechwriter for President Obama starts surfing at the age of thirty-five -- the rough equivalent of beginning guitar lessons on your deathbed -- he is taken on an unexpected journey in which he has to learn from the only other surfer he knows, his brother-in-law, Matt, a Joe Rogan superfan"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781668035351 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 289 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm
- Edition: First Gallery Books hardcover edition.
- Publisher: New York : Gallery Books, 2025.
Content descriptions
| Formatted Contents Note: | Surfing Is for lunatics -- Woochee -- Pain and sorrow before they quit -- Free speech! -- It's only drowning -- The New Jersey rubicon -- If you ever get into fights -- I just don't want to be the guy that dies of hypothermia in the parking space -- Water Wizards -- Shrimply irresistible -- Beanbag -- The Honda Odyssey -- Try that in a small town -- Sparring with hurricanes -- Le Snake -- Nothing's worse than knowing too much -- Between us. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Biographies. Autobiographies. Personal narratives. |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 797.32092 Litt | 31681010425171 | NONFIC | Checked out | 08/15/2025 |
- Baker & Taylor
David, Yale-educated writer with a fear of sharks, learns to surf with help from brother-in-law Matt, daredevil electrician with a shed full of surfboards, and they set out on a journey that spans coasts, and even continents, before taking them to Oahuâs famously dangerous North Shore. Illustrations. - Baker & Taylor
"When a former speechwriter for President Obama starts surfing at the age of thirty-five-the rough equivalent of beginning guitar lessons on your deathbed-he is taken on an unexpected journey in which he has to learn from the only other surfer he knows, his brother-in-law, Matt, a Joe Rogan superfan"-- - Simon and Schuster
* A GOODREADS MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF SUMMER 2025 * A TOWN & COUNTRY BEST BOOK OF SUMMER 2025 *
A former Obama speechwriter moves to the Jersey Shore and learns to surf with the help of his brother-in-law: a tattooed, truck-driving Joe Rogan superfan.
David, the Yale-educated writer with a fear of sharks, and Matt, the daredevil electrician with a shed full of surfboards, had never been close. But as Americaâs crises piled up and David spiraled into existential dread, he noticed that his brother-in-law was thriving. He began to suspect Mattâs favorite hobby had something to do with it.
David started taking surf lessons. For months, he wiped out on waves the height of daffodils. Yet, after realizing that surfing could change him both in and out of the water, he set an audacious goal: riding a big wave in Hawaii. He searched for an expert he could trust to guide and protect himâand when he couldnât find one, he asked Matt. Together, they set out on a journey that spanned coasts, and even continents, before taking them to Oahuâs famously dangerous North Shore.
Itâs Only Drowning is a laugh-out-loud love letter to surfingâand so much more. Itâs an ode to embarking on adventures at any age. Itâs a blueprint for becoming braver at a time when it takes courage just to read the news. Most of all, itâs the story of an unlikely friendship, one that crosses the fault lines of education, ideology, and culture tearing so many of us apart.
